Extrusion apparatus for obtaining luster, color, pattern, and complicated shape effects on articles formed of plastic material



- C IN] FOR OBTAINING L COLOR. P FFECTS ON I MED 5 D 0 M l m Dnh m 4 ORS US ATTERN.

5 OF PLASTIC HA Aug. 29. 1939. nx'rnuszon APPARATUS,

SHAPE E s-Sheet 1 Aug. 19,39

SIN. 2,171,095

COLOR, PATTER ED OE PLASTIC C. OR

EXTRUS AYPPYARATU'SIIFYOR' OBTAINING LUSTER. AND COMPLICATED SHAPE EFFECTS ON ARTICLES FORM TERIAL Filed Nov. 3, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 GIG 012d,

an: W

Aug;29.1939. c.oRsmu FOR OBTAINING LUSTER, COLOR, PATTERN, SHAPE EFFECTS ON A 2,171,095 AND COMPLICATED EXTHUSION APPARATUS RTICLES FDRMED OF PLASTIC MATERIAL Filed NOV. 5, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

Aug. 29. 1939. c. ORSINI 71,095 EXTRUSION APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING LUSTERw COLOR, PAT N, AND LICATED SHAPE EFFECTS ON ARTICLESJO D OF PLAST ERIAL Filed Nov. 1936 Sheets-Sheet 4 J x J Ziaa r 2? m fw b F' R ZQAS: $2. 3mm O Ora Q11 1),

I. Inthe accompanying dra Patented Au 29, 1939.

PATENT OFFICE 2.171.095 sx'musros msas'rus ron' on-rsmm LUSTEB, COLOR, PATTERN,

AND- OOM- PLICATED SHAPE EFFECTS ON ARTICLES FORMED OF PLASTIC MATERIAL mm. 0mm, mgnmm Park. N. 1., asllllml' to Nixon Nltration Works, Nixon, N. 1., acorporation of New Jersey Application November- 3, 1936, Serial No."1 0 9,042

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in extrusion apparatus especially adapted to use-in connection with plastics, such as pyrozwlin. plastics and has for its object the provision of an '5 improved apparatus for producing,- in simple fashion, novel and improved patterns, designs and color effects, and particularly continuous lustrous eil'ects in products made of such plastic material. Another object is the provision of an extrusion l0 apparatus for producing novel colorcombinations and 'eflects, particularly shimmering or lustrous eflects of great substantially unbroken by dull or lusterless areas in plastic materials of various kinds, such as cellulose preferably Celluloid.

A further object is the provision of an extrusion apparatus with which said shimmering or lustrous effects are produced by lustrous areas formed internally of the plastic body. as A still further object is to provide an improved apparatus whereby variously shaped rods of indefinite length can be. produced by continuous Another objectlis to provide an apparatus 35 wherein products pomessing the foregoing characteristics' can be produced in considerably less ester plastics, and 1' a tim and with less laborthan has heretofore been required.

with these and other objects-in view, them so vention consists in certain details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all aswillhereinafterbemdrefullydescribedand the novel features thereof particularly pointed outinthe appendedclaims.

wings- Flgurelisasideelenflonalviewot sion apparatus having an extrusion head in which certain features of the present invention have been embodied, thisportion of the apparatusbe- R ing shown in longitudmai. vertical section;

' Fig. 2 is a detail view inlongitudinal section on a somewhat larger scale. but taken on the same vertical plane as Fig. l, and illustrating the extrusion head and male; 45 Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 8 are transversesec'tions on the lines 3-4, 4-4, 5-1 and t-6, respectively, of

Z vtically continuous nature of the surface. an extru-g Fig. is a view in lmgitudinal section of the extrusion nozzle which; in Fig. 2, Slli'TOllIldS the parts illustrated in Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a view in end elevation of Fig. 10, looking from left toright;

Fig. 12 is an end elevation of a cutter member or so-called "breaker" which also serves as a support for the elements illustrated in Figs. '1 and 8;

Fig. 13 is a transverse vertical section of the cutter member or breaker illustrated in Fig.

' Fig. 14 isa view similar to Fig. 13, of a socket member which serves to support the cutter member or breaker illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13;

Fig. 15 illustrates a spider structure which is to be used as a second support-for the mandrel when the latter is not to be adjustable; 15

g. 16 is a transverse vertical section on the line l6-l6 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a view, in side elevation, upon an enlarged scale, of a portion of the product as extruded from the nozzle of the machine; Fig. 18 isv a transverse cross-section of a cylinder of plastic material formed in the "pearlbo x after it has been cut and provided with veins.-. of contrasting color;

Fig. 19 illustrates the pattern of a sheet obtained by treatment of the veined cylinder of Fig. 18 in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 20 illustrates, in side elevation, a portion of a twisted two-colored rod having numerous internal bands or zones of luster or less parallel fashion at least in groups and produced on the present extrusion machine; and

Fig. 21 shows a sheet produced from rods such as illustrated in Fig. 20 and illustrating the pracas of the nozzle In accordance with the present invention. ti-colored efiects can be obtained in simple fashion in the following manner: A'cylinder or block of plastic material is cut into any desired number of segments and one or more of shade. The composite cylinder or block thus formed is then charged into thepresent extru sion machine-from which it emerges as a-straight.

or as a twisted, or bar."1he tube, 'rod or bar so obtained is then cut into convenient lengths and laid side by side in one or more. layers in a suitable form or chase and pressed 1 intoasolid block which. w nbeingsheetedparollel to the axes of the rods, produces sheetshaving inulti-colored patterns of Plea n twists or curves. Where the pressed block of rod lengths is cut perpendicularly to the axes of the, rod lengths, beautifully formed spiral effects' are obtained. More intricate and spider- 5 rlmninginmore mul- such cements 40 I are replaced with segments of diilerent color or like spirals and veinings can be obtained by placing sheets of dark-colored plastic between adjacent segments of the cylinder. so that the resulting twisted rods, when cut perpendicular to their axes, yield unitary designs having component elements consisting of spiral veinings, the veins emerging from a common point if the-dark-colored vein sheets extend to the center of the cylinder.

The present application is based upon the apparatus disclosed in applicant's copendingcase, Serial No. 35,698, filed August 12, 1935,,which has been restricted to the process and product, the present case being devoted to the apparatus. However, to better appreciate the advantages of the present apparatus, a word might be said regarding prior processes and the process for which the present machine has been designed. For instance, in the processes heretofore in use for pro.-

ducing lustrous sheets of Celluloid for the manu-' facture of fountain pen barrels, knife handles, etc., the following steps have generally been followed:

(1) Mixing of the pyroxylin and plasticizer (or other plastic), the luster-producing material, such as bronze powder, and the solvent;

(2) Filtering;

(3) Forming solid cylinders of such plastic in a "pearl box or mold;

(4) Extruding the plastic through a die to obtain a hollow cylinder;

(5) Cutting of the cylinder to produce a sheet;

(6) Drying;

(7) Pressing of. the sheet in a chase;

(8) Sheeting-that is, cutting the pressed sheet into thinner sheets;

(9) Repressing;

(l0) Sheeting;

(l1) Dicing-that is, cutting the sheet into small cubes;

(12) Pressing a mass of the dice or cubes to weld the mass into a solid block which is generally about 5 thick;

(13) Cutting the mass into sheets of the desired size.

In the known process just described, the lustrous surfaces are produced during the extrusion of the tube of plastic, the cutting of the hollow cylinder, so obtained, producing a sheet having a lustrous surface only upon the opposite-sides thereof. In the subsequent dicing, the lustrous surfaces are retained but their quantity or area is not increased, and the dice have luster only upon two opposite sides thereof, with the four remaining sides being lusterless. Upon compression of the dice into a solid block and subsequent'sheeting of such block, the sheets of plastic material thus obtained have angular (generally square) patches of relatively high luster surrounded by relatively large areas of no luster.

With the present apparatus, however, the process is greatly simplified, a number of the steps above outlined beingomitted, so that the total time of operation is reduced from about 54 hrs. to about 27 hrs. for a batch of 400 lbs., that is, from the mixing to the final sheeting, when only one extrusion die is employed in the machine; and -to about 21 hours when the machine is equipped with three extrusion dies. In addition, the process practised with the present machine involves less pressing, thus reducing the amount of power required and producing less scrap material. Also, lustrous effects can be easily obtained with two or more colors and the lustrous surfaces are continuous to a much greater exproduct is to be veined, a sheet of black pyroxylin plastic, or of any other suitable material is interposed between the adjacent segments. Ihese operations require an additional hour, but are, of course, performed only when the product is to be multi-colored or veined;

' (5) Extruding the plastic. .The extruding nozsis is of novel construction, as will be more fully described hereinafter, and operates to cut the mass of plastic into a plurality of ribbons, in such =manner that each ribbon is given a lustrous surface on all sides thereof, after which the ribbons are forced together again and extruded in the form of a tube, rod or bar;

(6) Cutting the extruded rod suitable length;

(7 Pressing the pieces of plastic after arranging them according to any desired pattern; and

(8) Cutting the pressed plastic into sheets of the desired thickness.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, the reference character l0 designates generally an extrusion press of the horizontal type, whose general construction is well known, the fluid pressure cylinder i2, charge receiving cylinder l3 with the ram H which is actuated by the fluid pressure cylinder and piston and acts to advance the charge into cylinder l3, all being instrumentalities which may be, and are herein shown as, of known form, combined and cooperating in the usual manner. The extrusion head IS, in its general structure, is also of a well-known type, in so far as it includes a member i6 of annular shape formed separately from the cylinder l3, but hinged thereto as at l'l, upon a horizontal axis about which the extrusion head as a whole is adapted to swing clear of the mouth of the cylinder so that the latter can be charged from its forward end, after which the head is swung back into the position shown in Fig. 1. The point I8 is preferably sealed, with a suitable gasket or packing, as indicated, and a clamp l9 holds the member I f rmly seated against the cylinder l3. Hand wheels II and 2| are preferably provided for the rea manipulation of the head l5 and clamp l8, respectively. Jackets 22, 23, of usual form, for the circulation of a heat exchange medium, may be, and preferably are, provided where necessary, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

In the apparatus illustrated, the extrusion head into pieces of comprises an intermediate member 24 supported from the annular member It by a sleeve 25 welded or otherwise secured to the member IS, the intermediate member 24 being screw-threaded on sleeve 25 whereby the same may be readily removed for repair or replacement. The parts I6, 25 and 24 provide a continuous conduit for the plastic material forced into the extrusion head from the cylinder l3 by the cylinder ram l4. As will be noted, the internal diameter of this conduit is of gradually decreasing cross-section until approximately the middle of member 24, at which point there is formed a throat 23. The inner surface of the conduit may be provided, if desired, with a non-corrodible lining, as indicated at 21, and member 24 may be provided with recesses 23 to receive a suitable tool for mounting or demounting said-member and the parts connected therewith. The discharge end of member 24 is tapered outwardly and receives a similarly tapered divider block 23 held in place by a plate 30 which is detachably connected to the member 24. The purpose of the divider block is to distribute the mass of plastic material into as many streams as the machine has nozzles, the machine illustrated in the present instance having three nozzles. Accordin ly, the divider block is formed with three diverging ducts 3|, -each of which leads into an extrusion nozzle detachably mounted on the plate 33. .The total cross-sectional area of the ducts 3| is not substantially greater than that i of the throat section 26 of member 24. In fact, it is preferably slightly less. Of course, if the machine is to be used with only one nozzle, the outlets of two of the ducts 3|, in a machine of the present type, would be closed with a suitable plug, or the divider block 29 might be replaced by a block having only one duct, or the member 24 couldv be formed with a single discharge duct. The ducts 3| are symmetrically disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the press and,

- while they are'all closely adjacent to one another at the region of exit from the throat portion 26, they diverge radially toward the periphery of divider block 23, at their forward openings (Figs. 2, 3 and 4), and have substantially horizontal or axially parallel portions at their outlet regions, as indicated at 33 (Fig. 2). A heating medium circulating through jackets 34, 35, maintains the material in a plastic condition as it passes through the member 24 and divider block 29. Y

The extrusion nozzles are designated generally by the reference character 36 and one suitable form of such a nozzle is shown on a comparatively large scale in the detail sectional view of Fig. 2. As previously indicated, the present invention, in its preferred form, contemplates a treatment of the plastic material which will produce a multiplicity of lustrous areas internally of the extruded material as well as producing such lustrous areas at the exterior of the extruded material. In pursuance of this object of the invention, each stream of plastic material passing into one of the ducts 3i and through the extrusion nozzle is subjected to repeated cutting or dividing operations whereby it is subdivided into a plurality of longitudinally extending sections or ribbon-like increments, which are subsequently rewelded into a composite mass as the material emerges in the form of a rod, stick or tube, from the mouth of the extrusion nozzle. In the example illustrated, all the nozzles 36 may be of the same structural type, although it is not essential that the several nozzles be identical in construction inasmuch as it may be found convenient for securing complexity and added diversity of product to employ nozzles of diflerent structure so that the several nozzles of the machine will each turn out a'distinctive component to be employed for, or combined in, the final product. The expression nozzle, as used herein, may be regarded as designating an entire unit -or instrumentality for treating the advancing supply after it leaves orifice 33 of the divider block 29 and each nozzle is designed to effect various'phases of material subdivision, contributsuch subdivisions.

. truded material.

ing to the final effect intended to be produced, so that there may be considerable variation in the number, relative arrangement, and cooperation of the parts of the nozzle used in bringing about The interior construction of the nozzle is such as to produce a large number of lustrous bands within the interior of the excausing the particles of the luster-producing material to be orientated in planes in such fashion as to cause their light-reflecting surfaces to be arranged in parallelism, as is well understood in the art. In the'nozzle for accomplishing this result, there may be included at its base amember 31 which, for convenience, is referred to as a spider, breaker or initial ribboner and while this member is shown as of annular form, it may, of course, be of any other suitable shape. This so-called spider operates to subdivide the stream of plastic material into a plurality of increments or ribbons. 7 thus subdivided is apparent from an inspection of Fig. which showsthe spider as composed of the spider and preferably staggered circumferentially thereof. The walls of these channels are preferably very smooth and the channels should be of such axial length that the plastic material is formed into a plurality of straight ribbons therein, the surfaces of the ribbons being thus given a certain degree of luster by reason or their effecting the orientation of the lusterproducing particles, as previously mentioned.

To retain the spider in its proper position, a coupling member 40 is screwed into a suitable socket portion 4| of a plate 42, the latter being supported from the reduced threaded end of member 24. Plate 42 contains the heating jacket 33 previously described, the annular space being closed by a cover 43. The coupling member "40 is provided with a shoulder bearing against the spider ring 31. and holds the latter snugly against its seat within the member 42. Also, by reason of a suitably'formed shoulder, member 40 serves to hold, in assembled relation with the spider, a bushing 44 forming the'casing of the nozzle, said casing having an axial bore 45 into which the plastic flows subsequent to having passed through the arcuate channels 38, 33, of the spider. It is in this bore 45 of the bushing 44 that certain oper-.

ations are performed upon small streams of the plastic,'which operations play an important part in the properties and final configuration of the extruded body of plastic emerging from the exit 01 each nozzle.

Positioned within the bushing preferably supported in cantilever fashion from spider 31. For this purpose, the hub of the spider is provided with a bore through which extends a threaded post 41- engaged by a nut 43 on -the' opposite side of the spider, thus clamping the mandrel to the spider. Preferably, said nut is of conical shape, so that it serves as a means in diverting the stream of material from the duct 33 outwardly toward the series of arcuate channels 38, 39. Bore 45 of the'nozzle is uniform for a .considerable distance inwardly of its discharge end, but toward its inner end it"gradua1ly increases in diameter until it becomes substantially equal tothe outer diameter of the outer arcuate channels 38. Likewise, the inner end of the mandrel is so shaped as by being tapered, as indicated at 43, that it cooperates with the wall at 44 to pro;

the inner, enlarged bore of bushing 4 is a. mandrel 43,"

These bands are formed by The extent to which the mass is acted upon to form a large number of inte luster-produ the bore of bushing N, there will be a tendncy lustrous planes which remain as definite zones of luster and brilliance, notwiths ,l 1. =1 g the fact that the material is subsequently welded into a compact mass. In other words, by dividing the mass of plastic material into a large number of sections or ribbons, and passing these ribbons under pressure oversmooth, preferably metallic. surfaces, the innumerable particles of the bronze powder or other similar material suspended in the plastic are alined or orientated in parallelism with their brilliant luster surfaces facing outwardly. When these ribbons are again forced together into a composite mass, as in the f of a solid rod or block or the like, these lustrous areas'are not destroyed and, when the material is out along or near such areas, the luster aars even through the mass of overlying, more or less transparent,plastic, with its priginal brightness orwith various shades or nuances depending upon the angle of the cut the angle or curvature of the lustrous surface, thus gi a shimmering three-dimensional efiect, comparable to that of fabrics having changeable colors. In other words, the mandrel acts upon the luster producing particles in the same manner as the surfaces of the omnings in the so-called spider 37. Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, that portion of mandrel dd lying within the uniform bore of bushing dd is formed with a plurality of forks or tongues 5i, in the present instance four in number, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 7 and 9, to produce a number cl slots or recesses longitudinally of the mandrel itself. As a consequence, the plastic material as it es through the bushing 66 is ca to again be subdivided by being forced into the slots in the mandrel, so that as it passes over the smooth surfaces formed by the slots, the particles of material will be orientated, as previously described. In this common, it will be noted that the cross-sec 1- 1 area of the space it through which the plastic passes from the spider 37 to the slotted portion of the mandrel is of gradually decr cross-section due. primarily, to the converging bore of'b um M, so that as the so-called ribbons of material emerge from the slots 38, 39 of spider 3?, said ribbons will be forced together and united in a substantially unitary mass. However, due to this w m of of the ribbons to curl inwardly, so that, as they enter the mass being formed in the passage 5', the bands or areas of luster produced by the ironing action of spider 3'8 will be displaced, as

. distinguished from exten in continuous,

parallel planes. In other words, the band of luster formed by the walls of a slot in spider 3'8 will not remain a straight, unbroken band but.

due to the curling action in the W. the

will be understood, before the mass of the reunited ribbons enters the moreicstricted portion of the bushing dd and the slots in memher it. To maintain a high degree of p ":21:

within the bore 45 of the bushing, the cross-section of such bore may be reduced in area as .by giving it a star-shaped cross-section having six apices between which the walls are convexed inwardly, as illustrated in Figs. 6, 10 and 11. The available flow area, therefore, between the external surface ofthe mandrel and the inner walls of bore 45 is considerably less than the cross-section of the annular passage 50, so that the material is compelled to flow into the narrow passageys 52 formed by the tongues 5| in the mandrel. The plastic is thus cut or subdivided within the nozzle into a number of strips or ribbons, the opposite faces of each of which glides under pressure against smooth metallic surfaces on the tongues 5i, whereby luster-producing particles at such surfaces are alined in flat, parallel relationship, thus producing surfaces of high luster which, of course, will be at the interior of the mass as it emerges from the bushing. Also, the action of the tongues of the mandrel on the lusterproducing particles in the plastic will not interfere to a very great extent with numerous other particles which have been acted upon and orientated by passage through the slots of pider bl.

The several ribbons of material issuing from the nomle 363 may be drawn oil in straight condition, the lustrous surfaces produced in the mandrel and bushing being thus maintained flat and more or less parallel to one another while, of course, there will be other wavy lines of luster which have previously been produced by passage through the slots in spider 31. In certain instances, this maintenance of parallelism of some or the luster surfaces might be, desirable, but it is preferred to twist the several ribbons as they emerge from the nozzle, so that a twisted length of plastic is obtained in which the lustrous surfaces extend helically; as illustrated in Fig. 1'7, wherein there is shown a twisted rod 54 of plastic composed of a plurality of ribbons which have been welded together by twisting.

While the twisting above referred to may be done manuall means are provided in the present machine whereby this twist is automatically imparted to the ribbons or mass of plastic emerging from a nozzle. This is accomplished by positioning the mandrel eccentrically with respect to the axis of the bushing 44, so that the pressure and flow conditions within the nozzle are unbalanced to such an extent that the plastic emerges in a length having a definite twist. To effect adjustment of the mandrel within the bushing, there are provided a number of screws 55, three being sumcient, as shown best in Fig. 14, said screws be:- ing threaded into tapped holes in the coupling member t0 and provided with extensions 5G which bear against the outer portion of the spider 31. By properly adjusting screws 55, the axis of the spider can be tilted, within certain limits, with respect to the axis of bushing 44 and as mandrel i6 is rigidly mounted upon the spider, it folwith the spider. To facilitate this adjustment of the spider, the outer surface thereof can be rounded off to a certain degree, as illustrated in Fig. 13. The inner end of bushing 44 may be provided with notches 86 where necessary, as shown in Fig; 11, to accommodatethe extensions 56 of screws 55; Where, however, the mandrel'is to be kept peent'ly in coaxial relation with a. .1; 84, it may be additionally supported by means of a second spider 5? (see Figs. 15 and 16) lows that the mandrel will be displaced together which is provided with a central opening 58, 76

' through which the mandrel extends. This secnd spider 51 has a tapered outer surface adapted cylinder l8 fluid to be positioned against a tapered portion 58 of the bore 45. The spider i1 is composed of an outer ring I and an inner ring Ii heldtogether by spokes or partitions 82. The plastic material flowing through the annular passage 50 will be cut into four sections by the spokes 62 of the spider II, but the material then becomes-at least partiallywelded together before it enters the passageways I! of the mandrel. that the passageways through the spider'ii'l are of gradually diminishing cross-section.

As shown in Fig. 6, in the machine illustrated there are three nozzles. and these nozzles may be assembled within a circular plate 53 provided with heating jackets 81 around each of the nozzles, the jackets being connected, as shown, and supplied with hot water or steam which enters at 88 and discharges at 88. V

In the use of the present machine, as applied to the manufacture of sheets of plastic material having lustrous areas within the interior thereof, which can be seen through the more or less transparent material, such lustrous areas running at various angles to the surface of the sheet and thereby producing lustrous and shimmering effectsand different tones and intensities throughout the greater portion of the sheet, a mass of plastic material having suspended therein a substance capable of producing luster such as a bronze powder, is shaped into a block of suitable size in a mold and then, upon release of the extrusionhead by'a loosening of the clamp. I9, said block is inserted into the cylinder it from the front thereof. The block of matgrial can, of

course, also be inserted from the rear of the cylinder asmay be desired. Also, as previously suggested, the block maybe composed of a number of different colors of material by removing segments of one block and replacing the same with segments of a second block of different color. Upon clamping of the extrusion head onthe pressure is introduced into the pressure cylinder i2 placing the plastic in the cylinder it under pressure. By virtue of the gradually decreasing internal cross-section of the parts it and 24; the material is maintained continuously under high pressure, and as it passes through the divider mechanism 31 it is subdivided into two circular series of ribbons and, as the same glide over the more or less'smooth metallic surfaces defining the slots 38 and 39, the bronze powder particles are, to a certain extent, alined at those surfaces, thereby producingareas of luster. These ribbons are welded'together again within the space 58, but due to the fact that this space II is of gradually reduced cross-section as it approaches the entrance to bushing. 44, the lustrous areas are. not maintained in their original more or less straight and parallel relationship, but are caused to curl or become ofiset, so to speak. This curling action imparted to the ribbons as they are being welded together in space'Bii causes the lustrous areasjpreviously produced to be disposed more or less promiscuously throughout the mass. That is, the luster-producing particles which, at

' that point, had been orientated by the action of the surfaces of slots 38 and 39 will not retain" their original relationship and remain straight, but will be displaced or offset at various points or portions so as to produce compara- 'tively small areas of luster disposed promiscuous- 1y throughout the mass. The so-welded mass then passes into the region of the bushing Ml It will also be noted.

within which there is housed the lon itudinally sure for a considerable distance over or between the relatively long opposed smooth, hard surfaces thereof, so that there is imparted to the individua1 increments between each pair of opposed surfaces highly lustrous surfaces along planes which,

at least for the most part. are different from the planes of cleavage which were formed at the divider 31. By thus passing the material through the bushing, there are formed a large number of lustrous surfaces by the divider 31 and, subsequently, other surfaces by the mandrel 45, the various surfaces differing in degrees of intensity.

. As the material emerges from the mouth'of the nozzle, it may be permitted to collapse-into a more or less flat rod, or it may be twisted manually but, as previously explained, in the preferred form of apparatus the mandrel 48 is positioned eccentrically with respect to the bushing to automaticaly effect a twistingof the extruded length of material. The position of such twist is regulable to a certain extent by varying the degree of.

eccentricity of the mandrel. In this way, a twisted rod 54, such as illustrated in Fig. 17, whose outer surfaces are lustrous and which contains internal bands of luster which can be easily seen by cutting the length of the material longitudinally, such bands of luster being continuous and the different angles at which they lie to the cut surface producing pleasing shades and tones of luster which are visible through the transparent or'semi-transparent plastic material If desired, as for instance in producing highly lustrous sheets suitable for manufactureof fountain pen .barrels, knife handles and other ornacut into sections of suitable length, say 2 to 4 inches, and the sections thenarranged in a suit-- able press-box in parallel superimposed relationmental ware, the length of material 54 can bein the art and, upon sheeting of the compressed block along planes parallel to the axis of the originalv lengths of the material, sheets are obtained which show lustrous areas of different intensities for the greater part of the surface of the sheet; in fact. for as much as 70% to 80% or more of the total area. To a certain extent this sheet will show spiral convolutions corresponding to the convolutions of the original length of material extruded .from the apparatus. However, by arranging the lengths of material in differentways, different composite effects can be produced as,,for instance, by cutting a sheet from the block at an angle {to the axis. of the original sections of material. For example, if out at right angles, a lustrous "rose-bud pattern will be obtained consisting of streaks of luster issuing more or less spirally from a central point and surrounded by more or less non-lustrous areas. V

' The cutting of a pressed block at right angles to and parallel to the axes of the component twisted rods, is illustrated in Figs. 19 to 21. Fig. 19 shows a sheet having a novel spider-like pattern which is produced from extruded rods whose original block of plastic material was provided with "vein sheets. Such a block is shown at 63 in Fig. 18. The cylindrical block has been cut into six segments and between each pair of advein sheet of contrasting shade or color. This block is then fed into the extrusion press shown in Fig. 1 except that the eccentrically positioned mandrel is not square and slotted as shown, but is more or less cylindrical. There is thus obtained an extrudedrod of reduced diameter which upon being cut, grouped in a press-box, pressed, and sheeted at right angles to the axes of the rods yields a sheet having a pattern similar to that shown in Fig. 19. The sheet shown in this figure was made from a valued block of plastic similar to that shown in Fig. 18 but having eight .vein sheets- By positioning the mandrel ec= centrically, the veins are given a somewhat spiral twist as shown at B5. The distortion of the veins is due to the mandrel and the irregularity of the design yields a novel and pleasing eflect. It may be mentioned that the plastic material employed for making the sheet of Fig. 19 need not have any bronze powder or similar material suspended therein where the desired result is not so much an increased luster as a diversity of design; streaks or lines of luster may, however, form part of the design. I

Very beautiful color and luster efiects can be obtained by making the original block of plastic material of parts of diflerent color. Thus Fig. 20 shows an extruded twisted rod made from a cylinder or cartridge composed of segments of, for example, purplish and greenish tints. The

, extruded rod shows spiral bands of purple 6b merging into spiral bands of green '61, the sur-' faces being lustrous andthe interior of the rod having numerous planes of luster. Fig. 21 shows a. sheet cut from a pressed block of twisted rod similar to that shown in Fig. 20. This sheet has green zones of very high luster, as shown, for

example, at 88, merging into zones of lower luster 69 in such a manner as to give an impression of colors of difi'erent shades, the luster varying as the sheet is held at different inclinations to the light as lustrous areas of difierent inclination are made reflecting. In similar fashion the purplish areas it of high luster run into areas ii of lower luster, the relative luster, however, varying as the inclination of the sheet is varied. The efiect'is very similar to that of mother-of-pearl which reveals diflerent areas of luster as itis moved about in the hand. The lines it show the areas of separation between adjacent plastic rods of which the block from which the sheet was cut was composed. As will be seen from the portion 18 defined by the bounding lines it, it and 15 the lustrous zones corresponding to each original rod extend for considerable areas, as much as four. and more inches depending upon the size to which the extruded rod was cut. The portion 73 in the present instance is not of one color, but, as it was formed from the rod shown in Fig. 20, shows greenish areas blending gradually into purple areas in a. very pleasing fashion. It will readily be seen that by employing rods of difierent sizes and colors and by arranging them in diflerent ways, various pattern and color efieots, combined with. a. high degree of "pear or luster may be obtained. These color shadings and nuances cannot, of course, be shown on the drawings.

An interesting property of the sheet 0! Fig. 21. and similar sheets produced in accordance with the invention is that the rather small dull areas which are shown in solid blaohupon the drawings are for the most part dull only when the sheet is held in a certain pontion. when the angle or v 2,171,095 jacent segments there has been inserted a plastic v the sheet is changed, new planes of luster within such dull areas are brought into reflecting condition and such hitherto dull areas become areas 01 high or intermediate luster. The sheet may thus be said to have lustrous zones over practically its entire extent.

Very curious and interesting eflects may be obtained by the eccentric positioning of the mandrel. Where both the bushing and the mandrel are round and eccentric with respect to each other, an extruded tube is obtained which is of non-uniform cross-section, that is, its internal and external peripheries are eccentric with reference to each other. If the end of this tube is pinched to close it and the tube isthen caused to pass downwardly over an approximately rightangled bend and then drawn oil? horizontally. it collapses with a repwted gasping" action as the internal. support of the air is removed and the atmospheric pressure acts thereon, the collapsed tube tamng the form of a rod having under-cut ridges of v-iorm at one side thereof. These ridges are inclined to varying extents to the longitudinal center of the rod; that is, the apices of the if-ridges are positioned alternately upon opposite sides of such center. The apices of the successive ridges are connected between the ridges by webs running to the bottom of the rod. The ridges of the rod are formed 01 the thicker portions of the extruded tube while the bottom of the rod is made up of the collapsed thinner portions of the tube, the whole rod being formed of collapsed or doubled tube walls.

Twisted extrudw rods of diilerent shapes may be obtained by utilizing nozzles wherein the internal Mre of the bushing is of different shape from that of the mandrel, the mandrel being solid.

' Thus, the bore of the bushing may be square, circular, fluted and circular, fluted and square, or have any other polygonal shape, while the mandrel may be round, square, or of any other shape, various combinations of these shapes producing continuous extruded rods of different form and cross-section, particularly when the mandrel is ecoentrically positioned. In this way, spirally shaped rods having sharp or rounded spiral ridges, fiutings, etc. and combinations of these design elements can be obtained.

How much greater is the amount of lustrous areas obtainable by the process of the present invention as compared with prior processes will readily be seen from the following example. As- Sm that a bushing having a bore in the shape of a six-pointed star is employed in association with a solid, square or round mandrel, there is obtained an extruded tube which is lustrous along all the surfaces between the points of the star. These tubes are collapsed into a fiat strip which may be about V 01' an inch thick and about 1% and 1% inches wide. These strips are out into any desired lengths, and then placed in a chase, compressed and later cut into sheets. The much greater lustrous area contained in a compresm mass of plastic material made up of these flattened tum as compared with the old dicing method will be evident when it is considered that when these flattened strips are cut into, say, three-inch lengths, each strip is lustrous on all 0! its surfaces except the two narrow cut end suriaoeswhoseareaisonlyaboutldinchbyqo dinal ends which are likewise lustrous; moreover. vthesurilaceonthetopandbottomiacesisnot" flat but undulating, thereby presenting an even greater lustrous area. To these lustrous areas should be added the internal zones or areas of luster which are revealed by the knife. In the case of the dicing heretofore practiced, the dice, which were cubes of about to inch on a side, presented two lustrous surfaces and four nonlustrous surfaces, the non-lustrous area being thus twice as large as the lustrous area, whereas in accordance with the present invention the lustrous area of the pieces of plastic which are to make up the block from which the final sheets are cut. far exceeds the non-lustrous area and, moreover, is continuous for much greater areas than heretofore.

As can be.seen from Figs. 20 and 21, which show an extruded rod and a patterned lustrous sheet drawn to full size, the lustrous areas have considerable width, being. as much as to inch wide and even more at numerous places. Were sheet 2| produced from rods of the size of that shown in Fig. 20 but having luster only upon its outer surface, it is obvious. that the sheet would have only isolated areas of luster, the portions of sheet formed by the internal portions of the adjoining rod sections being devoid of lustrous areas. In the case of a sheet formed in accordance with the present invention from rods or collapsed tubes of plastic having both external and internal zones or hands of luster, such bands become exposed and visible no matter along what portion the rod is cut. As a result, the sheet of Fig. 21 exhibits throughout practically the greater portion of its area, and in certain instances throughout its whole area, adjoining lustrous areas of considerable size, all such areas presenting a luster of variable and substantially uniform- 1y graduated character, like mother-of-pearl, when viewed at different angles.

Especially where a screw feeder is employed,

particles of black, aged or seasoned plastic of about inch size may be added to the bath of plastic to produce a desirable speckled "appearance. These particles should be preferably relatively hard so as not to diffuse into the main mass of plastic and may be of any desired color. These particles, by producing a wavy effect, improve the luster.

I have found that very satisfactory results can be obtained by employing a 000 aluminum bronze,

about 510 grams being used for every 360 pounds of cotton, camphor and solvent, the solvent comprising somewhat less than one-fourth the total weight of material.

The plastic material employed in.the present invention may be of various kinds, and although Celluloid is preferred, cellulose acetate plastics and other plastic material can also be used.

What I claim is:

1. In an extrusion press, the combination with the extrusion cylinder and ram thereof, of a dividing mechanism provided with a plurality of series of circular slots through which the plastic material is forced, an extrusion nozzle of a free cross-sectional area smaller than that of the dividing mechanism, a conduit between the dividing mechanism and the nozzle having a gradually diminishing free flow cross-sectional area from the dividing mechanism to the inlet of the nozzle,

the mandrel said nozzle comprising a bushing and a mandrel within said bushing and separated from said dividing mechanism, said mandrel being capable of being rocked within the bushing and means for rocking said mandrel relatively to the bushing.

2. An extrusion machine having a nozzle comrelatively to the other to vary the eccentricity of the mandrel.

4. In an apparatus for'extruding plastic material having luster-producing particles therein, the combination with a pressure cylinder adapted to contain a mass of said material and means for forcing the mass from the cylinder, of mechanism for dividing material forced from the cylinder into a plurality of parts and orientating the particles in the respective, parts, said mechanism comprising circularly arranged slots with the slots elongated circumferentially of the series, the walls of said slots constituting the particle-orientating surfaces, an from said dividing mechanism, said nozzle comprising a bushing and a mandrel positioned within the bushing, said mandrel being supported from said dividing mechanism, and means for rocking in its support, the cross-sectional flow area of the extrusion nozzle being less than that of said dividing means, and a consolidating conduit between the dividing means and the extrusion nozzle, the cross-sectional shape of said conduit being such as to impede the flow of material therethrough and to cause the increments of plastic material to curl therein as they emerge from said dividing means;

5. In an apparatus for extruding plastic material having luster-producing particles therein, the combination with a pressure cylinder adapted to contain a mass of said material and means for forcing the mass from the cylinder, of mechanism for dividing material forced from the cylinder into a plurality of parts and orientating the particles in the respective parts, an extrusion nozzle spaced from said dividing means, said nozzle comprising a fixedly mounted bushing, a mandrel positioned within said bushing in spaced relation thereto but tiltable relatively thereto, and means for tilting the mandrel relatively to the longitudinal axis of the bushing for positioning the mandrel and'bushing eccentrically to each other, the cross-sectional flow areabetween said bushing and mandrel being less than that of said dividing means, and a consolidating conduit between said dividing means and said nozzle, the cross-sectional shape of said conduit being such as to impede the flow of material therethrough and cause the increments of plastic material to curl therein as they emerge from said dividing means.

CAMILLO ORSINI.

extrusion nozzle spaced 

